Hinge CEO Jackie Jantos said the company is using AI-driven coaching and chatbots to address a growing loneliness crisis among Gen Z [1, 2, 3].
This initiative reflects a broader effort to bridge the gap between digital interaction and physical connection for a generation that spends significantly less time in person with peers than previous generations [2, 3].
Jantos said that Gen Z spends more than two hours a day less in person with other people than the same age group did 20 years ago [2]. To mitigate these feelings of isolation, Hinge is integrating AI tools designed to coach users through the complexities of modern dating and social interaction [1, 2].
The company is not relying solely on technology to solve the issue. Hinge has donated millions of dollars to grassroots social groups to encourage real-world community building [4]. These efforts aim to move users from the app into face-to-face environments, a transition Jantos said is necessary for mental well-being.
While Hinge positions these AI tools as a means to facilitate human connection, the role of the technology remains a point of contention. Some reports suggest that AI is beginning to replace human connection in the dating process [3]. Conversely, other perspectives maintain that AI is merely a supportive tool to reduce loneliness, and prepare users for actual dates [1].
Jantos said that Gen Z may need chatbots to help them learn how to talk to others in a social setting [2]. By providing a low-stakes environment to practice conversation, the company hopes to increase the confidence of users when they eventually meet in person.
“Gen Z spends more than two hours a day less in person with other people than the same age group did 20 years ago”
Hinge's strategy signals a shift in the dating app industry from simple matchmaking to social behavioral coaching. By acknowledging a deficit in face-to-face social skills among Gen Z, the company is positioning AI not as the destination, but as a training tool to return users to offline social environments.
